Kosciusko County Velo Cycling Club wants to provide biking safety information.
A sharrow is a marking that gives information to both motor vehicle drivers and cyclists.
Drivers should expect to see cyclists sharing the lane with them; they should follow the normal rules of the road, and when passing a cyclist the driver should do so at a safe constant speed allowing 3 feet of space between their vehicle and the cyclist.
Fact or Fiction, in a Sharrow the cyclists are separated from traffic by a special lane? Fiction.
Fact or Fiction, in a Sharrow the cyclist must ride as far to the right as possible? Fiction.
Fact or Fiction, in a Sharrow the cyclist has the right to ride anywhere in the lane? Fact.
Fact or Fiction, a Sharrow does not give cyclists any additional information? Fiction.
Fact or Fiction, motor vehicles are allowed to drive in the area marked by Sharrows? Fact.
Don’t forget about your mirrors. Your side view mirrors extend out farther than the sides of your car. Hitting a cyclist with your mirror will cause them to fall resulting in serious injury or death.
Unlike a bike lane, where cyclists are given a specific travel lane, a Sharrow acts more like a signed “Share the Road” lane, giving all vehicles equal access to the lane.
Still the markings are placed in such a way to indicate to cyclists the safest travel lane when traveling straight.
For example, Sharrow markings are placed far enough into the lane to safely segregate cyclists from parked cars.
If a person has ever been cycling at 15 plus miles per hour and had the driver of a parked car open their door in front of you, you already understand how important it is to take Sharrow placement seriously.
Cyclists should follow the rules of the road, for example moving left when making a left turn, and should travel in the sharrow area whenever it is safe to do so.
